Jason Campbell, barring any last minute Draft day declarations (and this IS the Raiders we’re writing about), should be the starting QB next season in Oakland. Owner Al Davis has made it clear he likes Campbell – and perhaps, in part, Campbell is an indirect reason that Tom Cable, who wasn’t as big a fan as his boss, is no longer coaching the squad – and new coach Hue Jackson is on board, as well.

The rest of the QB roster looks like this: Bruce Gradkowski, Charlie Frye, Kyle Boller and J.T. O’Sullivan. And considering, as the Contra Costa Times reports, Gradkowski – the best player of any of the backups – wasn’t offered a tender, it seems like his days in Oakland might be finished.

Last year, Gradkowski was tendered as a second-round player (meaning he was paid $1.8 million) and was considered insurance for JaMarcus Russell. Then, when Russell spectacularly flamed out, the Raiders acquired Campbell from Washington and named him the starter. But it didn’t take Gradkowski long to get playing time.

He replaced Campbell in the second half of the second game of the season, and for the rest of the year, the two went back and forth, as they battled injuries and, frankly, crappy QB play.

Once a new CBA is reached, Gradkowski could be offered a contract, but Jerry McDonald writes that it’s unlikely. A more likely scenario is that Frye will take over the backup spot and the team might try to sign a developmental quarterback who theoretically could be the team’s future.

Either way, Gradkowski has had success in this league. He deserves a chance to be what he ultimately believes he is: a starting quarterback.

Cable's done a more-than-capable job of helping to turn the Raiders around over the past season, but if Schefter's report is true, it still wasn't a worthy enough job for Al Davis, who probably perceived this squad as a playoff team.

And, because it's Al Davis we're talking about, there's little-to-no guarantee that Cable will safely retain his gig simply by beating all his biggest rivals twice each in one season.

The soap opera that had been the week-to-week decision for who would take the Raiders QB spot (you know, if the Oakland locker room was one of those really crappy soap operas) has been cancelled. That’s because the Raiders placed Bruce Gradkowski on the IR list today with a separated shoulder, meaning that Jason Campbell won’t have to compete with anybody to start.

The team also signed J.T. O’Sullivan as the third QB, meaning Kyle Boller is now the backup.

This was a bit of a surprise, because as the Contra Costa Times points out, Gradkowski jogged through team drills Wednesday.

An interesting passage here:

You wonder if Gradkowski’s eagerness to return this season, laudable in a competitor, was something the Raiders simply didn’t want to deal with as the season was coming to a close.

Campbell was signed to an extension after being traded to the Raiders for $4.6 million next season, and it makes sense for the club to let him get those five games in, health permitting, or determine whether to go in a different direction.

“It would be a week a week or two weeks before he could even throw again or practice,’’ coach Tom Cable said. “You look at what’s left on our schedule. It’s just not enough time. I think it was a good decision made to move forward.”

So, for now, the job is for Jason Campbell. Unless Boller makes a play for the spot. Does anybody smell a soap opera reunion show?

However, if the report of the separation is true, it's all but guaranteed that Gradkowski will miss the remainder of the regular season. The shoulder he injured against the Dolphins is the same one he injured earlier this year, which caused him to miss four games as Campbell (temporarily) established himself as the starter (again) in Oakland.

This news isn't good for Gradkowski, of course, but it might be for the best as far as the Raiders' long-term quarterbacking situation goes -- they can give Campbell five games to try and make the best out of the rest of their season. If he fails, perhaps they'll have a better lead on what to do in the future. And if he succeeds, he can always just get replaced by Gradkowski again next year.

- Rams RB Steven Jackson has been using an altitude tent this week in preparation for facing the Broncos in Denver. Meanwhile, St. Louis CB Ronald Bartell tried his twice, and he’s not going to use it ever again. Read this St. Louis Post Dispatch story to find out why (ahem, he might have got himself stuck inside).

For the second week in a row, the Bills won and Lee Evans caught just two passes. (Not trying to suggest there’s a correlation between the two.) Steve Johnson has become Buffalo’s No. 1 wideout. He had eight catches for 137 yards and three scores against the Bengals.

For the second straight week, Felix Jones gave the Cowboys 51 yards on the ground. That is his second highest rushing output of the season.

Jahvid Best, who is battling a bad foot, had just two yards on three carries. Or maybe it was three yards on two carries. Anyway, he was a non-factor.

Dez Bryant averaged minus-two yards per catch on all of his non-touchdown receptions Sunday.

Very rarely does a DT lead his team in tackles. That’s what Ndamukong Suh did for the Lions (eight stops).

Before leaving with a re-aggravated groin injury, Clinton Portis looked fresh on five carries (32 yards).

Pilloried all week for poor route running, Redskins wideout Joey Galloway caught three passes for 32 yards. That was three more than Randy Moss caught, by the way.

Titans rookie Marc Mariani recorded his second touchdown return of the season (87 yards on a punt).

It came predominantly in garbage time, but Derek Anderson was 25/46 for 295 yards and a touchdown. And Matt Cassel, who raised the bar for garbage time excellence last week, was a sturdy 15/24 for 193 yards and two touchdowns.

Dwayne Bowe caught two touchdowns, giving him a Chiefs record six-straight games with a touchdown. Bowe is on pace for 1,100 yards and 18 TD’s.

Clay Matthews added another sack to his records (league-high 11.5 on the season). He also had two tackles for a loss and two hits on the quarterback.

LaDainian Tomlinson still looks fresh. He only managed 36 yards on 12 carries, but he turned in 71 yards on seven receptions.

Joel Dreessen could wind up keeping the starting tight end job even once Owen Daniels is healthy. Dreessen, who is a slightly better blocker than Daniels, caught four passes for 106 yards and a touchdown.

James Harrison had two sacks, two tackles for a loss and two hits on the quarterback (one of which drew a ridiculous roughing the passer flag)…and those numbers still don’t describe the depth of his impact Sunday.